Trump critic Romney sworn in as Utah senator

Mitt Romney, who is seen as a potential rival to US President Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election, has been sworn in as the junior US Senator from Utah, signalling his official return to politics. 

Romney, who is being appointed to the Foreign Relations Committee of Senate. was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday.

The oath came just two days after Romney had criticized Trump over his "divisive" policies.

On Tuesday, Romney suggested in an op-ed essay in The Washington Post that Trump had made the US public more divided due to his character, which was not up to par with presidential standards.

“On balance, his conduct over the past two years ... is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office,” Romney said.

PressTV-Incoming Sen. Romney savages Trump's leadership

Mitt Romney has slammed President Trump's character, saying it fell short of what the country needed.

Trump responded to his fellow Republican's criticism by noting that he had gained better results than Romney by winning the presidential race, while the former Massachusetts governor stood and lost for the Republicans against Barack Obama in 2012.

“I won big, and he didn’t,” the president tweeted. “He should be happy for all Republicans. Be a TEAM player & WIN!”while .

Trump compared Romney to Jeff Flake, an outgoing Republican senator who also attacked him last year, and said he was "surprised" Romney criticized him so quickly.

Here we go with Mitt Romney, but so fast! Question will be, is he a Flake? I hope not. Would much prefer that Mitt focus on Border Security and so many other things where he can be helpful. I won big, and he didn’t. He should be happy for all Republicans. Be a TEAM player & WIN!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2019

Elsewhere at a White House cabinet meeting, Trump said that if Romney had "fought really hard against President Obama like he does against me, he would have won the election".

Trump also expressed hope that the Foreign Relations Committee member would be a team player.

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